Bearing structure for deep well turbine pumps



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TURBINE PUMPS Jar/N A W/A/TIPOA 771;

M {QTTOPAJE'Y J. .A. WINTRQATH Filed July 26 BEARING STRUCTURE FOR DEEP WELL Feb. 9, 1932.

Patented F b. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. WINTROATH, 015' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNQR F ONE-HALF TO EDWARD 1!. SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AN D ONE-HALF TO WINTROATH PUMPS, LTD., OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA BEARING STRUCTURE FOR DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMPS Application filed. July 26,

This invention relates to the pumping industry, and it relates particularly to a deep well turbinepump.

The ordinary turbine pump consists of a pump unit which is located near the lower end of a well and which is secured to a column pipe which extends to the surface of the ground. The pump unit has a number of pump bowls which provide runner chambers m in which runners are placed. A pump shaft to which the runners are secured is extended to the surface of the ground through the column pipe and is attached to a pump head by means of which the ruhners are rotated in order to pump liquid to the surface of the ground.

Turbine pumps of this character have been confined to use more or less on shallow wells while reciprocating pumps have been used on go deep wells, which in the oil well industry are as much as three or four thousand feet.

One of the chief reasons why the ordinary pump cannot be used in deep wells is that the runners cannot be properly positioned in the runner chambers by reason of the stretch of the pump shaft. These runners which revolve in the runner chambers must be placed in such a vertical position that they will have clearance both above and below. lln shallow pumps the stretch of the pump shaft is very small and no dificulty is experienced from this source; however; in deep wells the stretch is considerable and therefore the runners can not be properly positioned.

It is an object of this invention to provide a deep well turbine pump in which the runners of the pump unit are centralized in the runner chambers regardless of the length of ,the pump shaft.

In my invention l provide a runner shaft which extends only through. the pump unit and to which the runners are secured. Extending from the up er end of the runner shaft to the surface 0 the ground is a pump shaft which is drivably connected to the runner shaft. Means are provided for supporting the pump shaft and separate means are provided for sup-porting the runner shaft. In some well installations the hydraulic thrust on the runners is enormous and canwas; Serial no. 124,859.

not be carried by a single bearing. It is somewhat of a problem to arrange a plurality of bearings so that one of the bearings will not be overloaded.

It is one of the objects of this invention to 5 provide a deep Well turbine pump having a plurality of bearings for supporting the runner shaft and for taking the hydraulic thrust imposed on the runners, and so that each pea'ing will take its respective share of the Another object of this invention is to provide a deep well turbine pump having one bearing unit for supporting the weight of the runner shaft and runners and a. second bearing unit which will be automatically brought into operation as the hydraulic thrust is created and increases.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident hereinafter.

lteferrin to the drawings in which ll illustrate a pre erred form of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through the upper part of a pump of my invention.

Flg. 2 is a vertical section taken through the lower part of my invention, this view showing the parts in upper operating positions.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower end of the pump showing the positions of the parts when the pump is not in operation and when there is no hydraulic thrust imposed on the runners thereof.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on th line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

The form of my invention shown in the drawings includes a pump head 11 having a pump body 12 which is supported by a subbase 13. The sub-base 13 is placed at the top end of the well and extending downwardly therefrom is a well casing 14:. Se-

cured to the sub-base 13 by a screw joint 15 is a column pipe 17 which extends downwardly therefrom through the well casing 14.

A. pump unit 19 is attached to the lower end of the column pipe 17 This pump unit 19 consists of an upper section 20, a lower section 21 and a plurality of pump bowls 22.

A of the lower runners 36 connect to the mouth These parts of the pump unit 19 are secured together as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The upper section 20 is provided with internal threads 24 into which a lower threaded end of the column pipe 17 extends. Passages 26 of the upper sect-ion 2O communicate with the interior of the column pipe 17. The pump bowls 22 have passages 27, the lower ends of which connect to a runner chamber 28. The upper ends of the passages 27 of the upper pump bowl 22 connect to the lower end of the passages 26 of the upper member 20, while the upper ends of the passages 27 of the other pump bowls connect the runner chambers 28. The bottom member 21 has a mouth 30 which connects a space 31 to the lower runner chamber 28. This space 31 is provided by a cylindrical wall 32 having perforations 33 therein. Surrounding the bottom member 21 and extending downwardly therefrom is a screen pipe 34. Oil to enter the pump unit 19 must pass through the screen pipe 34, the openings 33', and into theespace 31. Situated in the runner chambers 28 are runners 36 having passages 37 formed therethrough, the upper and lower ends of which connect to the pas sages 27 of the pump bowls 22. The passages 30 of the bottom member 21.

Extending through the pump unit 19 is a runner shaft 40 which is supported by bearings provided by the upper and lower sections 20 and 21 and the pump bowls 22. The runners 36 are rigidly secured to the runner shaft 40 by means of keys 41. The lower section 21 provides a bearing chamber 43, this bearing chamber 43 being formed below the space 31. The lower end of the runner shaft 40 extends into this hearing chamber 43.

The runner shaft is reduced as indicated at 44 so as to'provide a shoulder 45 surround ingthe reduced end 44, and engaging the shoulder 45 is an upper thrust plate 46. A primary thrust bearing 47 is supported in the upper art of the bearing chamber43 by means of a centralizing ring 48 which is supported by a radial wall 49 provided by the lower member 21. This primary thrust bearing 47 surrounds the reduced end 44 of the runner shaft 40 and engages a lower face of the upper thrust plate 46. 'The extreme lower end of the wall 32, at the bottom of the oil chamber 43, is enlarged so as to provide a shoulder 50. Placed in this enlarged portion is a plunger 51 which is free to move up and down within a limited distance, the upper positionthereof-being determined by the shoulder 50. Extending across the lower end of the lower memher 21 is a diaphragm 52 which is secured in. place by a plate 53. The plate 53 is secured In place by cap screws 54. The central part 1 of the plate is cut away so as to provide a diaphragm chamber- 54 directly below the diaphragm 52.. A lower centralizing ring 56 is supported by the plunger 51, this centralizing ring 56 supporting a, secondary thrust bearing 57 which cooperates with the primary thrust bearing 47 to form a bearing structure adapted to take any downward thrust imposed on the runner shaft 40., Resting on the thrust bearing 57 is a lower thrust ring 58 which surrounds the very lowest end of the reduced portion 44 of the shaft 40. Placed on the reduced portion 44 between the upper and lower thrust plates 46 and 58 is a distance ring 60. A nipple 62 is screwed into the lower plate 53 and attached to the nipple is a pipe 63, this attachment being madeby means of a nut 64. The lower part-of the pipe 63 is U-shaped and a leg 66 thereof extends upwardly along the lower member 21 and the lowest pump bowl 22. The upper end of the leg 66 is threadedly secured at67 to the lowest pump bowl 22 in communication with the passage 68.

/ This passage 68 communicates with a storage chamber 69 which in turn is connected to one of the runner chambers 28 by means of an opening 71.

When the pump is in operation there is a hydraulic pressure in the runner chamber 28 and this hydraulic pressure is transferred to the diaphragm chamber 54 through the interconnecting means, just described. This pressure forces the diaphragm 52 upwardly and the plunger 51 moves upwardly therewith. The secondary bearing 57 is therefore moved upwardly relative to the runner shaft 40 and is caused to support a portion of the weight thereof. In Fig. 2 the secondary bearing 57 is shown in a working position, whereas in Fig. 3 it is shown in a non-working position. Thus, as the hydraulic thrust builds up on the runner, the bearing structure comprising the bearings 47 and 57 will take this hydraulic thrust as the pressure in the chamber 69 increases and forces the diaphragm 52 upward. The pressure developed in this chamber is approximately proportional to the hydraulic thrust, and therefore the pressure on the bearing structure increases 1n proportion to the amount of hydraulic thrust imposed on the runner. The diaphragm 52 and plunger 51 thus individually or collectively comprises a pressure-responsive means for exerting an up Ward thrust on the shaft 40 in proportion to the hydraulic thrust imposed thereon.

The upper end of the runner shaft 40 projects througha main bearing 73' which is connected to a hub 74 of the upper section 20. Grooves 75 are provided in this'upper extending end of the runner shaft 40. A tube 76 surrounding the upper end of the runner shaft 40 is connected to a main bearing 76. The upper end of the tube 76 is provided with a collar 77. The lower end of a pump shaft 78 extends through a bear- .ing opening 79 of the collar 77 and into the interior of the tube 7 6. A coupling member 80 is secured at 81 to the lower end of the pump shaft 78. This coupling member 80 has a cavity 82 into which the upper end of the runner shaft- 40 extends. Splines 84: are carried by the coupling member -80, the inner parts of which extend into the channels 7 formed in the upper end of the runner shaft 40, thus drivably connecting the shafts 78 and together. This connection, however, permits a relative vertical movement between these two shafts. The pum shaft 78 extends upwardly through the column pipe 17, being supported by line bearings 86. The upper end of the pump shaft 7 8 projects through a stufing box 87 and terminates a short distance above the body 12 of the pump head 11. A thrust nut 88 is advanced on a threaded portion89 of the pump shaft 78; A flanged member 90 of a flexible coupling 91 surrounds the upper end of the pump shaft 7 8 and is adapted to support the thrustv nut 88. A lower face of the flanged member 90 engages an upper race of a thrust bearing 93. A lower race of the thrust bearing 93 is supported by a diaphragm 94 which extends across the upper end of a chamber 95 provided by a box 99,

- till this box 96 being supported by the body 12. The diaphragm 94 is secured in place by an outer ring 97 and an inner ring 98. The chamber 95 is fllled with a non-compressible fluid, the pressure of which is indicated by a gauge 99 which is connected to the chamber 95 by means of a pipe 100.

Supported above the body 12 is a motor 101, this motor 101 being supported by a frame 102. Amotor shaft 108' extends down from the motor 101 and has a flanged member 104 connected thereto, this flanged member 10% forming a part of the flexible coupling 91. The flanged members 90' and 10A are connected together-according to standard practice.

As mentioned, the stretch of the pump shaft 78 in very deep wells is considerable and must be removed before the pump can be operated. In Fig. 8 1 show the position of the coupling member 80 before the slack resulting from the stretch of the pump shaft has been removed therefrom. This coupling member 80 is in lowermost position and engages the upper end of the runner shaft 40. For this reason the pump shaft 78 is not entirely supported at its upper end. Before the motor 101 and the flanged member 10A are installed in place the thrust nut 88 is rotated in order to pull the-upper end of the pump shaft 7 8 upwardly in order to remove the. slack from the pump shaft. As

the upper end of the shaft is moved upwardly, the weight on the bearing 98 increases and the non-compressible fluid in the chamher isplaced under a higher pressure, this pressure being indicated .by. the gauge 99. When the coupling member 80 is no longer supported by the runner shaft 40, the weight of the pump shaft 78 will be supportedentirely by the bearingv 93 at theupper end.

p. this position so that ample clearance will .be provided at the lower end of the pump shaft.

The collar 77 which surrounds the lower end' of the pump shaft 7 8 prevents the coupling member 80 from being entirely disengaged from the upper end of the runner shaft 40. After this adjustment has been made, the motor 101 and the flanged member 10% are assembled and the pump may be put into operation.

Before the pump is started up, the plunger 51 is in a lower position and the secondar bearing 57 is supporting no weight. The pri-- mary bearing -17 is provided mainly for the purpose of supporting the weight of the runner shaft and the runners 30. When the pump accelerates to full speed, a hydraulic thrust is placed on the runners 36, this thrustbeing in a down direction. As previously mentioned, in very deep installations the hydraulic thrust is enormous and too much for a single bearing to handle. The hydraulic pressure of the liquid being pumped is transferred tothe diaphragm chamberhl by means of the opening 71, the chambers 69 and the pipe 63. The liquid pressure in the diaphragm chamber 54 deflects the diaphragm 52 upwardly and moves the secondary thrust bearing 57 upwardly therewith, causing it to support a portion of the load on the runner shaft d0. As the hydraulic thrust on the runners increases, the hydraulic pressure against the diaphragm 52 increases proportionate thereto and therefore the secondary bearing 57 will take that portion of the load which is plunger 51 in its uppermost position, in 1115 which position it engages the shoulder 50. At this time the pump is running at full speed and the secondary bearing 57 is taking its maximum loadfrom the-runner shaft A0.

This arrangement is entirely automatic and prevents the primary thrust bearing 4:? from being overloaded. The. secondary thrust bearing 57 is brought into operation only when it is needed and it takes all ofthe load which is not intended to be handledby the primary bearing 4!? The secondary bearing 57 may be brought'into operationand to take more or less load. as desired either by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the.

plunger'51 or by connecting the pipe 63 to a higher or lower point in the pump unit 19.

The important part of my invention, which is obvious from the foregoing description, is the provision of a deep well turbine pump having a pair of bearings for supporting the runner shaft one of which bearings is automatically brought into operation when the load of the runner shaft increases above a certain point.

I claim as my invention:

1. A turbine pump comprising: a ,pump ,unit adapted to be placed in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit;

"a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a primary bearing for supporting said runner shaft; a secondary bearing; means operated by the fluid pumped by said runner for causing said secondary bearing to support a portion of the load of said runner shaft when there is a hydraulic thrust on said runner; a pump shaft extending from said runner shaft to the top of said well; means for supporting "said pump shaft; means for rotating said pump shaft; and means for drivably connecting saidpump shaft and said runnenshaft together.

2. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a rotatable runner shaft carrying said runner; a primary supporting bearing operating to support said shaft and said runner when stationary; a secondary bearing; a plunger slidably mounted in said pump unit, said plunger engaging said secondary bearing; and a diaphragm adapted to actuate said plunger, said diaphragm being operable by hydraulic pressure derived from said runner to cause said secondary bearing to carry the, hydraulic thrust of said runner.

3. A turbine pump comprising ma pump unit adapted to be placed in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unlt; a runner shaft havlng said runner secured thereto; a primary bearing for supporting said runner shaft; a secondary bearing; 7 means for causing said secondary bearing to support a portion of the load of said runner shaft in proportion to the pressure derived from said runner; a pump shaft extending from said runner shaft to the top of said well; means for supporting said pum shaft, means for rotating said pump sha and means for drivably connectingsaid pump shaft and said runner shaft together.

4. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be placed in a well; means for supporting said pumpunit; a runner situated in arunner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said-runner secured thereto; a primarybearing located below said runner for supporting said runner shaft; a secondary bearing located below said runner;

means for causing said secondary bearing to support a portion of the load of said runner shaft in proportion to the pressure derived from said runner; a pump shaft extending from said runner shaft to the top ofsaid well; means for supporting said pump shaft; means for rotating said pump shaft; and means for drivably connecting said pump shaft and said runner shaft together.

-5. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit providing a runner chamber; a runner in said runner chamber; a shaft to which said runner is secured; a primary bearing retained in fixed position in said pump unit for taking an axial thrust of said shaft; and a secondary bearing movable relative to said pump unit as the hydraulic thrust builds upon said runner to assist said primary bearing in resisting said hydraulic thrust; I)

K 6. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit providing a runner chamber; a runner in said runner chamber; a shaft to which said runner is secured; a primary bearingretained in fixed position in said pump unit for taking an axial thrust of said shaft; a secondary bearing movable relative to said pump unit; and means for moving said secondary bearing into supporting relationship with said shaft with a .pressure which is proportional to the pressure of the pumped fluid.

7. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; walls forming abearing chamber in said pump unit and into which said shaft extends; a prima bearing insaid bearing chamber; a secon ary bearing in said bearing chamber; and means operated by the fluid pumped by said runner for causing said secondary bearlng to occupy a supporting relation withsaid runner shaft as a hydraulic thrust builds up on said runner.

8. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto; a pri mal y mechanical thrust bearing, for said shaft: a secondary mechanical'thrust bearing movable into and from supporting relation-f shipwith said shaft; a diaphragm supporting said secondary thrust bearing; and means for subjecting said secondary bearing to the.

fluid pressure developed by said runner.

9. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be situated in a well; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit, there being a bearing chamber diaphragm in said bearing chamber for supporting said secondary thrust bearing; and means communicating with said diaphragm and with the fluid pumped by said runner.

10. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a rotatable runner shaft carrying said runner; a thrust bearing; and a non-rotatable plunger slidable in said pump unit and acted upon by the hydraulic pressure of the fluid being pumped, said plunger bringing said thrust bearing into supporting relationship with said shaft.

11. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a rotatable runner shaft carrying said runner; a primary mechanical thrust bearing operating to support said shaft and said runner; a secondary mechanical thrust bearing; pressure-responsive means in said pump unit and exerting a thrust on said shaft through said secondary bearing, said thrust being opposed to the hydraulic thrust of said runner, said pressureresponsive means being operable by the hydraulic pressure of the fluid being pumped; and means for limiting the maximum amount of said hydraulic thrust taken by said secondary bearing.

12. In a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump unit; a runner shaft; a runner mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotate in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a diaphragm acted upon by the fluid being pumped by said pump unit and extending be low and in spaced relationship with the lower end of said shaft; and a mechanical thrust bearing co-acting between said diaphragm and said runner shaft and exerting on said shaft a yariable thrust in a direction opposite to the hydraulic thrust exerted on said shaft by said runner, the amount of said thrust being controlled by said diaphragm. I

' 13. A combination as defined in claim 10 including means for limiting the movement of said plunger whereby the thrust exerted on said shaft by said bearing is limited.

.7 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 15 day of July, 1926.

JOHN A. WINTROATH. 

